No one else has had a television career comparable to that of Ted Danson. Sure, there are several actors who have appeared in several hit series. But Danson has been a mainstay in prime time for five decades now, consistently hitting shows since he rose to superstardom as Sam Malone on “Cheers” in 1982.

“Cheers” was an NBC megahit that ran a whopping 275 episodes over 11 seasons. This was followed by another hit, “Becker,” which ran for six seasons and 129 episodes on CBS. He turned to drama in the late 2000s and early 2010s, starring in FX’s “Damages” and CBS’s “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” before discovering – and a fruitful relationship with – NBC’s “The Good Place.” The creator Mike Schur is now behind Danson’s latest hit star role in “A Man on the Inside” on Netflix.

“It was so fun and comforting and happy to be back on set and writing lyrics for Ted,” says Schur. And for Danson, the feeling was mutual: “It was this feeling of sweet, kind, funny, meaningful conversations about things I should talk about at the right age.”

In recognition of his many years of successful work, the Golden Globes are now honoring Danson with the Carol Burnett Award – the ceremony’s highest television honor. “I would love a cookie named after Carol Burnett. I love her, I adore her, I respect her so much,” he says.

But more importantly, by a small coincidence, Danson was also nominated for Best Actor in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy this year for “A Man on the Inside.” This is Danson’s first Globe nomination since 2007 (for “Damages”); He previously won three Golden Globes: two for “Cheers” (1990 and 1991) and one for the television film “Something About Amelia” in 1985.

In “A Man on the Inside,” Danson plays Charles, a widower caught up in a lonely life following the death of his wife. For fun, he takes on the job of a private detective to break into a retirement home and spy on its residents. Charles soon connects with his aging peers – and finds an antidote to this loneliness.

“I’ve never had a role like Charles,” Danson says. “It’s rare to get the opportunity to explore a character that is so rich and nuanced. It’s even rare that I get to play a character my age, surrounded by vibrant colleagues with stories that reflect that lived experience. Since the show premiered, it has been amazing to hear the reception and see how so many people from different generations identify with the story and feel not only laughter but also meaning and deep emotions.”

Danson, of course, also played a version of himself during HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm and had a major role in the second season of FX’s Fargo. He was nominated for 18 Emmys – 11 of which came from every single season of “Cheers.” He won two of them in 1990 and 1993.

These days, Danson says, he prefers roles that have a little drama in the comedy or comedy in the drama. And that’s why he’s proud of “A Man on the Inside.”

“My joy, the thing that makes me happiest in a script or in life, is when you find laughter in the sadness. Or if it’s a drama, if you find the laughter underneath,” he says. “If it’s a comedy, I want to know that there’s a sadness behind the joke. This is my favorite thing to do.”